Survivor villain fired from job after outing transgender contestant

Survivor contestant Jeff Varner has revealed he was fired from his job after he outed rival Zeke Smith as transgender on the CBS show.

The Charlotte-based Allen Tate Realtors sacked 50-year-old Varner because he was "in the middle of a news story that we don't want anything to do with," the Greensboro News & Record reported.The 50-year-old reality show star was also

The 50-year-old reality show star was also booted from the show after the shocking revelation, the Daily Mail reports.  

On the show - which was filmed last June on Fiji's Mamanuca Islands - Varner was looking to convey to the cast that there was deception going on in the ranks. 

He subsequently asked Smith, "Why haven't you told anyone you're transgender?"

Smith gave no response.

The other contestants appeared shocked and did not say anything either.

"What I'm showing, is a deception," continued Jeff, before the other survivors chimed in citing that it "was personal" information. 

The outing caused the cast to come down on Varner, who was subsequently booted from the competition when host Jeff Probst told him, "We don't need to vote, just grab your torch."

Later, the former contestant issued an apology.

Yep. I did that. And I offer my deepest, most heartfelt apologies to Zeke Smith, his friends and life allies, his family and to all those who my mistake hurt and offended," Varner began.

"I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew," he continued. "I was wrong and make no excuses for it. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life.

Clearly understanding the gravity of what he did, Varner continued, "Let me be clear, outing someone is assault. It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger," he wrote.

"It can leave scars that haunt for a lifetime. I am profoundly sorry. Zeke is a wonderful man and I will forever be amazed and inspired by his forgiveness and compassion.I thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did."

He ended his note by saying that he was "deeply saddened" at what his "mistake" caused, appearing regretful.

Probst, speaking with Entertainment Weekly, condemned Varner's actions, saying the incident was unprecedented in the 17 years he's hosted the program.

"I cannot imagine anyone thinking what was done to Zeke was okay on any level, under any circumstances, and certainly not simply because there was a million dollars on the line," Probst told the publication. 

"I think the response from the tribe, as it so often does, mirrors what the vast majority of society will feel. You just don't do that to someone."

This article was first published on Daily Mail and is republished here with permission.